When you are using the internet you are downloading, as your computer must download information from the web for you to view it on your screen. You can also download files, such as music tracks or albums, movies and programs from the internet.
Download restrictions
If you have an unlimited package, you do not normally need to worry about how much you are downloading. However, some packages have download restrictions or caps. This means that the provider is placing a limit on your online activity. If you go over your restriction, you may be asked to upgrade your package to one with a higher restriction, or pay for the extra amount that you are downloading. Restrictions are usually measured in gigabytes (GB). 1 GB is 1024 megabytes (Mb). 1 megabyte is 1024 kilobyte (Kb).
Monthly usage
In order to establish the package with the right connection for you, it is important to estimate your monthly usage. The following table shows approximately how much you will download for various activities.
| Activity | Amount used |
| Surfing the web | 10Mb per hour |
| Sending & receiving email | 240Kb per email |
| Downloading music | 4Mb per track |
| Online gaming | 20Mb per hour |
| Online radio | 25Mb per hour |
| Streaming video clips | 5Mb per clip |
| Internet phone calls (VoIP) | 40Mb per hour |
| Updates for programs & security software |
36Mb |
| Downloading programs | 100Mb |
Example
The following is an example of a customer's internet usage for a month.
| Activity | Amount used | Monthly Usage | Total |
| Surfing the web | 10Mb per hour | 30 hours |
300MB |
| Sending & receiving email | 240Kb per email | 50 emails |
12,000kB (11.7 Mb) |
| Downloading music | 4Mb per track | 10 tracks | 40Mb |
| Online gaming | 20Mb per hour | 10 hours | 200Mb |
| Online radio | 25Mb per hour | 2 hours | 50Mb |
| Streaming video clips | 5Mb per clip | 20 clips | 100Mb |
| Internet phone calls (VoIP) | 40Mb per hour | 10 hours |
400Mb |
| Updates for programs & security software |
36Mb | 2 updates |
72MB |
| Downloading programes | 100Mb | 1 download | 100Mb |
| Total GB | 1.24
GB |
In this example, the customer's internet usage is 1.24 GB per month. Therefore, a package with a 1GB restriction (cap) would not be enough for this customer. Packages with a cap of 2GB or above should be considered instead.
